Seat for a captain&#39;s chair



March 3, .1970 H. J. w. VANDERMINDEN m 3,498,668

SEAT FOR A CAPTAIN'S CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1968 INVEN'IOR. b-wey 1 MM/wagwmm/v E BY E E Y Anne/ms March 3, 1970 H. J. w. VANDERMINDEN m 3,498,663

SEAT FOR A CAPTAIN'S CHAIR Filed Jan. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E .\w\\ 2 N w r 8 Q V mmmfi/ m & m @N h United States Patent 3,498,668 SEAT FOR A CAPTAINS CHAIR Henry J. W. Vanderminden III, Granville, N.Y., assignor to The Telescope Folding Furniture Co., Inc., Granville, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 701,387

Int. Cl. A47c 4/32 US. Cl. 297-45 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A strip of seat material has a retaining rod secured directly to the ends of the strip. The ends are received within longitudinal slots and are fixed therein by stitching passing through the walls of the rod forming the slot. The retaining rods are sized so that the primary stitching is received within the grooves of the chair frame.

This invention relates to a seat for a captains chair. More particularly, this invention relates to a removable collapsible seat for a captains chair.

Heretofore, chairs which have been commonly designated as captains chairs have been provided with a collapsible frame having pivotal legs and arms so as to be folded into a substantially flat configuration. In addition, these chairs have been provided with collapsible seats which usually have been made of a material such as plastic, canvas or other Woven fabric such that the seats can be folded along with the chair frames into the flat con figuration. Since the seats have usually been of different material from the frames, provisions have been required for securing the seats within the frames so as to be collapsible upon folding up of the frames and openable upon folding out of the frames to assume the usual occupant receiving position. In many cases, these :provisions have utilized cooperating structural features in the frames and the seats to retain the seats securely in place. In one instance, longitudinal grooves have been formed in a pair of suitable supports within a chair frame disposed in the plane of the seat while the respective ends of the seat have been inserted within these grooves and clamped therein by appropriately sized dowels, such as wood dowels, inserted longitudinally into the grooves. Frequently, to facilitate the placement of the dowels in the grooves, each end of the seat has been folded over and stitched to the remainder of the seat material to form a loop for rernovably receiving a dowel within the groove of the support. Thus, after positioning of the seat loops in the support grooves, the dowels can be slid into the loops so as to retain the seat ends in the chair frame. In other cases, the dowels have been permanently stitched within loops formed at the ends of the seat such that the dowels have become positioned in the grooves along with thelongitudinal sliding of the seat ends into the grooves.

However, since the ends of the seat material have usually been stitched to the body of the material at substan tial distances from the ends of the seat to ensure a suitable securement, the seams formed by the stitching have usually been located outside the grooves in the chair frame. Consequently, when the chair is in use, a substantial portion of the occupants weight is transmitted to the Patented Mar. 3, 1970 stitching in the exposed seam. This has, in many cases, placed undue stresses on the seat at the stitching such that the stitching or the material at the stitching has failed, causing the useful life of the seat to be shortened.

Further, in many instances, because the ends of the seat material have been folded over to define loops for holding a dowel therein for securement in a groove of a chair frame, it has been necessary to have the material of such a type and thickness to be flexible enough to fold easily into the needed loops. Consequently, such materials such as heavy gauge stiff saddle leather, heavy gauge vinyl foam nylon of sandwich-laminated construction, etc., could not be conveniently used in making a seat for collapsible chairs as such materials are not easily foldable into small loops. The loops which could be formed with such materials would be so large as not to fit' into the conventional grooves of a chair frame or as to require excessively sized grooves as to present a danger that the material could pull out of the grooves. Further, such materials are sticky and consequently would not easily slide into a groove of a chair frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to prolong the useful life of a collapsible seat of a collapsible chair.

It is another object of the invention to secure a pair of retaining rods directly to the ends of a collapsible seat.

It is another object of the invention to secure a retaining rod to a strip of collapsible seat material at points to be retained within a groove of a collapsible chair frame.

It is another object of the invention to permit the means securing the seat material to a retaining rod to be capable of carrying relatively greater loads.

It is another object of the invention to provide a retaining rod on the end of a seat which is sized to be retained with a groove of a chair frame and clamped between hinged portions of the chair frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide a seat for a collapsible chair frame of relatively thick material. It is another object of the invention to mount seats of various materials within a chair frame in a secure and easy manner.

Briefly, the invention provides a retaining rod for mounting a strip of seat material in a chair frame. The retaining rod is adapted to secure various types and thicknesses of seat material within the chair frame in a rela tively simple and secure manner. For example, the seat material can be made of material which is readily foldable, such as canvas, as well as of material which is relatively stiff, such as, heavy gauge stiff saddle leather, heavy gauge vinyl foam nylon sandwich-laminated construction, etc.

The invention is especially adapted to seats for a collapsible chair frame such as of the captains-chair type. In such an instance, the seat for the chair frame is constructed of a strip of seat material and a pair of retaining rods, each of which is secured to an opposite end of the seat material strip. Additionally, the retaining rods are sized so as to slide into a respective one of a pair of grooves within the chair frame so that the seat can be positioned securely in place. The retaining rods are each formed from a longitudinal piece of material such as a plastic'which possesses suitable characteristics for retaining the end of the strip within the groove. Each retaining rod has a slot which is disposed longitudinally to receive the end of the seat strip while also having a pair of suitable longitudinal guide or relief areas formed in the rod surface on opposite sides of the slot. The walls of the rod between the slot and the relief areas are of a thickness such that a retaining means, such as stitching, can penetrate the walls so as to retain the end of a received seat strip within the slot. Generally, the cross-sectional shape of the retaining rod is such as to matingly conform with the cross-sectional shape of the groove into which the rod is to he slid. However, such is not necessary so long as the rod has a cross-sectional dimension which will prevent pull-out of the rod from the groove outwardly through the mouth of the groove.

In one embodiment, the retaining rod is provided with a single elongated flange which is sized to extend out of the mouth of a groove in a chair frame. In another embodiment, the retaining rod is provided with a pair of such flanges on opposite sides of the strip receiving slot. In both of these embodiments, the flange or flanges are secured, as by stitching, to the seat strip in order to further strengthen the relative securement of the seat strip and retaining rod. Also, in both of these embodiments, the flanges are sized relative to a pair of hinged frame members of the chair which act as arm rests so as to be clamped between these frame members when the chair is in a position of use.

In order to install a seat provided with the retaining rods of the invention, the seat-retaining grooves of the chair frame are exposed in a known manner and the retaining rods are simply slid longitudinally into the respective grooves. The chair frame is then manipulated into-the usual seat position for use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appender claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a collapsible chair incorporating a seat according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a position for removal or insertion of the seat;

FIG. 3 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a retaining rod of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a seat and a pair of grooved seat receiving support members;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a retaining rod of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a retaining rod secured to a seat'strip of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a new view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a modified retaining rod of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 7 of the retaining rod of FIG. 8 in place;

FIG. 10 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of another retaining rod of the invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 7 of the retaining rod of FIG. 10 in place.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the collapsible chair 12 is formed of a collapsible frame 13, a foldable seat 14 and a foldable backrest 15 so as to be collapsed into a substantially flat configuration for storage or transportation purposes. The collapsible frame 13 is of a known construction and includes a pair of criss-crossed leg assemblies 16, 16' which are pivotally connected to each other and restrained by a hinged assembly 17. Each leg assembly 16 has an upper seat receiving support member 18 which is provided with a longitudinal groove 19 (FIG. 2) of generally circular cross section to receive one end of the seat 14. In addition, the collapsible frame 13 includes a pair of arm assemblies 20, each of which is pivotally mounted, as by hinges 21, to a seat receiving support member 18 of a leg assembly 16 for opening away from the seat 14. Each arm assembly 20 has a lower support member 22 which has a flattened base 23 sized to be disposed over the groove 19 in the adjacent seat receiving support member 18. The back rest 15 which is of a suitable material is formed with loops at each of two opposite ends which are slid over upstanding supports 24 of the arm assemblies 20 and retained thereon.

Referring to FIG. 4, the seat 14 is formed as an integrated unit of a strip 25 of material and a pair of retaining rods 26 for removable mounting in the frame 13. The strip 25 is of any conventional seat material such, for example, as a woven textile fabric and is rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the strip 25 can be of a material which is relatively stiff, for example, a heavy gauge stiff saddle leather, and a heavy gauge vinyl foam nylon sandwich-laminated construction. Where such a relatively stiff material is used, it is noted that the material while not being readily foldable in short lengths, is foldable with respect to the width of the material across the chair frame 13 so as to permit the chair frame 13 to be collapsed into a flat configuration. The retaining rods 26 are of a material such, for example, as a plastic which is receptive to being secured to the ends of the strip 25 by a retaining means such, for example, as stitching 27.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, each retaining rod 26 is formed of an elongated longitudinal body with a longitudinal slot 28 for receiving the end of the strip 25 with a slight clearance or in a sliding fit relation. The material from which the rod 26 is made and the shape of the slot 28 are such that the walls of the slot 28 can be flexed so that the slot 28 can be widened to receive a thicker strip 26 or narrowed to abut a thinner strip 26. The slot 28 is sized to penetrate into the body of the rod a suit able distance for permitting an effective securement to the end of the strip 25. For example, the slot 28 is of a depth which passes through the center of the rod. In addition to the slot 28, the rod 26 is provided with a pair of longitudinal relief areas 29 which are formed as depressions in the exterior surfaces of the walls defining the slot 28. These relief areas 29 serve as a guide for placement of the stitching 27 a well as a means for reducing the wall thickness where the stitching 27 penetrates the rod 26. Also, the relief areas 29 allow the stitching 27 to be recessed within the rod 26 after placement. The rod 26 is also formed with an outwardly extending flange 30 on one side of the groove 28 for providing additional securement of the rod to the seat strip.

Referring to FIG. 6, in order to assemble the seat 14, the end of the strip 25 is inserted into the slot 28 and stitching 27 is passed through the rod 26 from one relief area 29 to the other and the received end of the strip 25 in a continuous manner.

Thereafter, a secondary stitching 31 is passed through the flange 30 and the adjacent portion of the strip 25 in a similar manner to act as a secondary stitching of the retaining means.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 in order to assemble the seat 14 in the collapsible frame 13, the backrest 15 is removed from the supports 24 of the arm assemblies 20 and the arm assemblies 20 are pivoted outwardly on the hinges 21. Next, with the grooves 19 thus exposed, the seat 14 is inserted longitudinally into the frame 13 with the retaining rods 26 passing longitudinally into the respective grooves 19. Thereafter, the arm assemblies 20 are pivoted back into upstanding position and the backrest 15 is replaced.

Referring to FIG. 7, when in place in the support member 18 of a leg assembly 16, the retaining rod 26 is received in substantially mating relation with the groove 19 so that the retaining rod 26 is prevented from being pulled out of the mouth of the groove 19. Also, the flange 30 extends out of the groove 19 and lies across the surface of the support member 18. Thus, when the arm assemblies are in upstanding position as shown in FIG. 1, the support members 18, 22 clamp the flange 30 there between and thus serve to further retain the seat in place.

The seat is removed from the frame in a reverse man her from the above.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the retaining rod 26 can be formed without an outwardly directed flange so that in cross-section, the rod is generally cylindrical. In this case, the entire rod is sized to be contained within the groove 19 of the chair frame support member 18. The strip 25 of the seat is thus free to contact the surface of the support member 18. In addition, the stitching securing the strip 25 to the rod 26' is also contained wholly within the groove 19.

Referring to FIGS. and 11, the retaining rod 26" can also be made with a pair of outwardly extending flanges 30, 30'. In this case, the flanges 30, 30 are disposed on opposite sides of the slot 28 and are both secured to the strip 25 by the secondary stitching 31. This rod 26" serves to further ensure the securement of the strip 25 to the rod 26".

The invention thus provides a seat for a collapsible chair which can be securely retained in place in the chair frame in a simple manner. Also, the seat, when in place, permits transmission of the stresses of a load on the seat to the stitching in the retaining rod. Thus, in one respect the stitching is placed in a condition of double shear under the load rather than only single shear as has been the case in many heretofore seat assemblies. The seat, therefore, is capable of a relatively long useful life as the possibility of failure in the stitching is substantially reduced.

Further, the invention provides a seat which is easy to assemble in a chair frame in that the seat has a retaining means secured directly to a strip of seat material and the retaining means can be slid into the retaining grooves of the chair frame.

The invention also provides a retaining rod for mounting strips of seat material in a chair frame in a relatively simple and rapid manner. Further, the retaining rod permits various types of materials to be used for the seat proper such that relatively stiff materials which heretofore could not be readily used can be used with relative ease. Thus, various materials such as saddle leather, vinyl foam nylon sandwich-laminated constructions, or other materials with decorative designs can be easily used.

It is noted that the retaining rod of the invention can be made of any cross-section which can be suitably retained within a seat receiving groove of a chair frame. For example, while the retaining rod described above is illustrated with a generally cylindrical cross-section, any other suitable cross-section can be used, such as, oval, rectangular, etc. It is further noted that the material from which the retaining rod is made as well as the thickness at the groove are such as to permit stitching to be stitched therein by suitable machines.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable collapsible seat for a chair frame comprising a strip of foldable seat material having a pair of opposite ends, and

a pair of retaining rods removably secured respectively to each of said ends of said strip, each said retaining rod having a longitudinally extending slot therein receiving one of said ends of said strip, said strip and said rods forming an integrated unit for removable mounting in a chair frame.

2. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strip of seat material is relatively stiff.

3. A seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strip of seat material is made of heavy gauge saddle leather.

4. A seat as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strip of seat material is made of heavy gauge vinyl foam nylon sandwich-laminated construction.

5. A seat as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strip of seat material is of readily foldable material to permit collapsing of the chair frame.

6. A seat as set forth in claim 1 further comprising retaining means securing each respective strip end in said slot of one of said retaining rods.

7. A retaining rod for receiving the end of a strip of material comprising a longitudinally elongated body, 7

a longitudinal slot disposed in said body for receiving the end of a strip of material, and

a pair of longitudinal relief areas formed as depressions in the exterior surface of said body on opposite sides of said slot to receive a retaining means in recessed relation whereby the strip of material is secured to said body.

81A retaining rod as set forth in claim 7 wherein said body is formed of a plastic material.

A retaining rod as set forth in claim 7 which furbody is of a generally circular cross section.

10. A retaining rod as set forth in claim 7 which further comprising a flange extending outwardly of said body adjacent said slot.

11. A retaining rod as set forth in claim 7 which further comprises a pair of spaced flanges extending outwardly of said body on opposite sides of said slot.

12. A retaining rod as set forth in claim 11 wherein said body and said flanges are flexible to receive the end of a strip of material.

13.'A retaining rod as set forth in claim 12 wherein said body and said flanges are made of plastic.

14. A seat for a chair frame comprising a strip of seat material having a pair of opposite ends,

a pair of retaining rods secured respectively to each said ends of said strip, each said retaining rod having a longitudinally extending slot therein receiving one of said ends of said strip, and

retaining means securing each respective strip end in said slot of one of said retaining rods, said retaining means including stitching passing through each of said retaining rod and said end of said strip Within said slot groove.

15. A seat for a chair frame comprising a strip of seat material having a pair of opposite ends, a pair of retaining rods secured respectively to each of said ends of said strip, each said retaining rod having a longitudinally extending slot therein receiving one of said ends of said strip, each said retaining rod having at least one outwardly extending flange adjacent said slot secured to said strip to rein- 013.36 the securement of said strip to each said rod, an

retaining means securing each said strip end in said slot of one of said retaining rods and said flange to said strip, said retaining means including stitching passing through each said retaining rod on opposite sides of said slot and said strip within said slot, and secondary stitching passing through said flange and said strip.

16. A seat for a chair frame comprising a strip of foldable seat material having a pair of opposite ends,

a pair of retaining rods removably secured respectively to each of said ends of said strip, each said retaining rod having a longitudinally extending slot therein receiving one of said ends of said strip and a pair of longitudinal relief areas disposed in the outside thereof on opposite sides of said slot, and

retaining means securing each respective strip end in said slot of one of said retaining rods, and retaining means being received in a respective relief area in recessed relation whereby said relief areas facilitate passage of said retaining means through said rod.

17. A seat for a chair frame comprising a strip of foldable seat material having a pair of opposite ends, and

' a pair of retaining rods removably secured respectively to each of said ends of said strip, each said retaining rod having a longitudinally extending slot therein receiving one of said ends of said strip and at least one outwardly extending flange adjacent said slot secured to said strip to reinforce the securement of said strip to each said rod.

18. A seat as set forth in claim 17 further comprising retaining means securing each said strip end in said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Umanoff 297-45 XR Ewing 160-392 Gittings et a1. 160-395 XR Swan 160391 XR Mize 29745 groove of one of said retaining rods and said flange to 10 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner said strip.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 3JL98,668 Dated Mareh 3, 1970 Inventor) Henry J.W. Vanderminden III It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 36, "appender" shouli be appendeat':

' Column 6, line 16, which further" should be Column 6, line 67, "and" should be "said" smumm swan SEP 2"919'70 mm 1:. 5mm, m. I l Atwsting Offi Commissioner o: Patenta 

